Great New NINEBARK – ‘Amber Jubilee’

The newest ninebark member in my collection is Physocarpus ‘Amber Jubilee’, also known as Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Jefam’.   ‘Amber Jubilee’ ninebark was named in honor of Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.  The queen took part in the ceremonial planting of this new shrub while visiting Winnipeg.
It is beautiful, and as amber, golden, glowing and colorful as the name suggests.  It is the seedling of the cross ‘Diabolo’ x ‘Dart’s Gold’ made by Rick Durand of Jeffries Nurseries in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba (Canada).

foliage variations on our new Ninebark ‘Amber Jubilee’

I was so pleased to find this and add it to our collection.    It came in a two gallon pot and cost $38.00 in one of our local nurseries.  The cost was a bit on the high side, but not enough to prevent me from buying it.

I’m really fond of ninebarks and the color they bring to the garden.  Last year I wrote a post about ninebarks, here’s the link http://wp.me/p2kNeQ-aB  since then we have added ‘summerwine’ and now Amberglow to the gardens.

When doing some internet research on this great new shrub, I found this great description of the foliage.  : “According to this nursery the new ninebark offers a unique blend of foliage colors including new growth that takes on shades of yellow and orange in summer before turning purple in the fall. “Foliage on mature sections of the plant is lime-green. Amber Jubilee is distinct from purple-foliaged ninebarks such as ‘CenterGlow’, ‘Coppertina’ and ‘Summer Wine’. Its foliage is an improvement over long-time cultivar ‘Dart’s Gold’. ‘Amber Jubilee’ will be effective as a medium shrub in the landscape, whether massed or planted in small groupings.” 

The Details:

The common name: Amber Jubilee® Ninebark

True botanical Name: Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Jefam’

A member of the Rosaceae family

Light: full to partial sun

Hardy to: USDA Zone 2

Soils: adaptable to a wide variety of soil types

Growth Rate: A vigorous shrub reaching a mature height of 5-6’ (2 m) and a width of 4’ (1.5 m).

Pest and Disease: No specific problems.  (In my yard- we have to protect them from the deer and elk who find them very tasty)

Propagation: Cuttings from established plants. Propagation by First Editions license only.

Landscape Value: Amber Jubilee® is distinct from purple-foliaged ninebarks such as Center Glow®, Coppertina® and Summer Wine®. Its foliage is an improvement over long-time cultivar Dart’s Gold. Amber Jubilee® will be effective as a medium shrub in the landscape, whether massed or planted in small groupings.

Ever Wonder Who Visits Your Yard? FIND OUT… UPDATE

Bull Elk

The trail camera failed several months ago.

A cautionary tale:  I won’t go into all the details, but these can also be a security camera.  Unfortunately, the camera had failed, so it wasn’t working the morning that we had an un-welcome man looking in the bedroom window and ringing the doorbell.   I had never seen him before and didn’t answer the door.  Later it turned out that it was most likely the same man who broke into a nearby house, beat up and robbed a woman, then fled.  He came back later that night,  fought with the homeowners and was killed by one of the homeowners with a kitchen knife.  He had items with him that indicated that he had very bad intent.  If my camera had been working I would have had a good photo of him for the police, and we might have been able to identify him before this happened.  I will always make sure that we have at least one working camera at all times.  We bought another Bushnell trophy cam.  It’s working perfectly.  Pay attention to your instincts.  If something doesn’t feel right, listen.  If I had ignored my instincts that day, things might have been very different.

Bull Elk

On a lighter note:  here is the most pesky critter that has visited in the last week or so.  This elk has eaten literally hundreds of daylily blooms, over a dozen large hostas,  lots of hydrangea blooms and even a gunnera, Yes I said a gunnera!  Nothing eats those, this elk is crazy!  He has been coming round the clock and often with a doe.  He stands a couple of feet taller than our pick up truck.  I have a netting over some of the hydrangeas now.

Who visits your yard?

Here’s a link to the original post:  http://wp.me/p2kNeQ-fQ  There are lots of wildlife candid camera photos.

Ever Wonder Who Visits Your Yard? FIND OUT…

black bear broke into the pen and now is breaking into the chicken coop to steal grain

AN ATTRACTIVE IDEA TO PROTECT YOUR LILIES FROM DEER AND ELK

This plant combination has kept our expensive and treasured lilies protected from deer and elk.

The first few years that we grew lilies here at our home in the woods, they disappeared.  Sometimes it was slugs, they would eat parts of the blooms while they were very small so that when they grew out they were very distorted or destroyed.  Most of the time it was deer or elk, simply eating the blooms off.  It is not very attractive to grow lilies inside 5 foot tall wire cages.  Growing in grass is a much better option.

I believe this grass is Miscanthus sinensis,

Accidentally, while looking for a place to plant some grass, we found lily bulbs and decided to plant the grass anyway and let them grow together.  It turned out to be a lucky accident that we have repeated though-out the yard whenever we plant lilies.

I couldn’t explain why it works but for some reason the deer and elk don’t like the lilies growing in the grasses and don’t eat them.  It’s so nice to have lilies that don’t need to be protected in fencing.

Lilies blooming in the grass

If you look closely at the photo, you will see budded lilies in the center of the grass.  I believe this grass is Miscanthus sinensis,  it is about 4 – 5 foot tall.   This has turned out to be a good combination for several reasons.  The grass offers support to the lilies, so we don’t have to stake most of them.  Grass offers them protection from predators.  Slugs don’t seem to like grasses much either so we aren’t getting the distorted blooms even in this very damp year in our part of the world.    We like the look of the grass and leave it to turn brown over the winter,  since the lilies are inside the grass, we don’t even notice as the lilies turn brown and die back.  The grass remains an attractive part of the fall and winter garden.  We usually cut them back early in the spring as they begin to show signs of new growth.

I can’t promise that this plan will work against your large furry plant eating pests.  I don’t even know if it will keep working for us, but this is the fourth year and so far so good.  (2013 Update – still working)

In the first photo you really notice the grass.  The lilies are budded up inside the grass.  In the second photo the grass recedes and you really notice the lilies and the perfume is wonderful.

I hope you will try this in your yard and share any successful planting combinations that have worked for you.

Grow on and try it.

Leola

Signs of Spring

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These are some of the signs of spring in the maritime climate of the Pacific Northwest.

Bird Cage as Garden Art adds Interest & Protects Plants

Here’s a great idea to keep the bunnies, deer & elk from dining on your favorite plants.

Find an old birdcage, of any kind,  the more interesting the better.

• Paint it if you want.  ( a can or two of a good quality of spray paint )
• Take the bottom out, then place it over your plants!

This cage is an interesting and attractive way of protecting a compass plant ( Silphium laciniatum ).  Last year we never saw a full leaf.  It’s two years old and has 3 leaves now that it’s no longer fine dining for the bunnies.